14:15 Ascot

Saturday 13 July 2019

All13:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Ruddy Novice Auction Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 14:19 | Winning time: 1m 27.62s

(7)

Bad Rabbit¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Jason Watson| T: D Loughnane

25/1

Showed modest improvement from debut when fourth at Doncaster (7f, good) on latest start. Needs to find more on that form to be competitive.

Form: 74

(6)

Berkshire Rocco

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding

11/4

€40,000 yearling purchase. Out of 2006 Derby winner Sir Percy and is a half-brother to Italian 1m2f winner Elisa Again. Holds a Derby entry for next year and worth a market check on debut.

Form:

(10)

Hermano Bello

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: F Sweeney| T: R Hannon

25/1

Youmzain colt who cost £40,000 as a yearling. Out of dam who won up to 9f in Germany and is a half-brother to three winners between 6f and 7f. Appears to be stable's second choice and best watched on debut.

Form:

(2)

Kentucky Hardboot

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Kerrin McEvoy| T: M R Channon

16/1

Starspangledbanner gelding who is a half-brother to multiple two-year-old winner Cuppatee. Has precocity in his pedigree and notable if there is market support.

Form:

(8)

Kingbrook⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston

7/4

22,000 gns yearling. Encouraging third on debut at Haydock (7f, good to firm) nine days ago. Entitled to come on for that run and stayed on well that day so stiff 7f should be up his street. Leading contender.

Form: 3

(4)

Manigordo¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon

4/1

Looked to bump into a good when fourth on racecourse debut at Newmarket (7f, good to firm) and didn't get the cleanest of breaks. Should be more streetwise for this and has some good entries. On the shortlist.

Form: 4

(3)

Mr Nutherputt

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: W J Knight

33/1

Resold for 42,000 gns as a yearling and is closely related to two 10f winners in Justice Grace and Tamanaco. Yard rarely has newcomers win so others are preferred.

Form:

(11)

Speed Merchant⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: B J Meehan

33/1

Showed little promise on debut when eighth in 6f Newbury novice nine days ago. Winner of that race is likely to be an above-standard juvenile but more needed on that evidence to be competitive.

Form: 8

(12)

Twittering

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Nicola Currie| T: J A Osborne

22/1

£33,000 two-year-old purchase and related to 1m2f winner Relco Asia and 1m winner Singapore Lilly. May be of some interest on racecourse debut.

Form:

(5)

Clever Candy

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: M L W Bell

18/1

£50,000 two-year-old out of a dam who won over 5f during her career. Yard won this contest last season and merits a betting check.

Form:

(9)

Miss Villanelle⁴⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: C Hills

12/1

Regressed slightly from promising Goodwood debut when 6l fourth in Wolverhampton novice contest last time out. Can be forgiven for that run and has claims back on turf.

Form: 24

(1)

Zulu Girl¹⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton

16/1

Took a backwards step from debut when third of nine at Newbury (7f, good to soft) on latest. Has obvious ability but will make more appeal when switched to nurseries.

Form: 53

Forecasts

Kingbrook (7/4), Berkshire Rocco (11/4), Manigordo (4/1), Miss Villanelle (12/1), Zulu Girl (16/1), Kentucky Hardboot (16/1), Clever Candy (18/1), Twittering (22/1), Bad Rabbit (25/1), Hermano Bello (25/1), Speed Merchant (33/1), Mr Nutherputt (33/1)

MANIGORDO sets the form standard in this contest and ran respectably behind a potential group-class juvenile on his debut at Newmarket and this looks to be an easier race and looks a good opportunity to get a win under his belt. Kingbrook may well perform better over further in time but should be thereabouts over the 7f which requires sufficient stamina, while Kentucky Hardboot has the precocity to perform well on debut for a stable who are starting to come into form.